State of Barwon | Kevin Humphries

Warm Welcome: All staff working in Barwon Visitor Information Centres will be trained in the latest customer service techniques thanks to a NSW Government program to help promote rural and regional NSW.

NEW CONSUMER GUIDE ON HOME SOLAR BATTERY STORAGE

A new consumer guide will help NSW households decide if solar battery systems are right for them. The NSW Home Solar Battery Guide gives consumers facts and information to help them make decisions about using battery storage. NSW has over 350,000 households with rooftop solar. Many consumers are now looking to batteries. While batteries can help consumers take control of their energy use, making sure the products are right for them is also important. It can be complicated, and this guide will help cut through the jargon. The time it takes to pay back household solar plus battery installations could drop from around 10 years to around six years by 2025, so consumer interest should grow. The guide focuses on households that have installed or are looking to install solar PV as part of their home energy systems. There are fact sheets and practical examples that illustrate the decisions a buyer might wish to make. The guide will help consumers decide whether battery storage could save them money and how they might be able to choose the right battery system. The NSW Home Solar Battery Guide is available online at www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/energy-consumers/sustainable-energy/nsw-home-solar-battery-guide

NSW SENIORS FESTIVAL TURNS 60- GRANTS AVAILABLE

I encourage organisations in Barwon to celebrate the enormous contribution seniors make by holding an event during the 2018 NSW Seniors Festival. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for local organisations to host events and activities that will support the festival’s 60th year. The $200,000 grants program is part of the NSW Government’s continued commitment to creating a more inclusive community for seniors and celebrate the immense value older people bring to our communities. Schools, councils and other local organisations are encouraged to apply and be part of more than 1000 free or discounted events expected to be held across the state. The 2018 festival will run from Wednesday April 4 to Sunday April 15.

For the first time, there are three funding categories available:

Tier 1 Grants of up to $1000 for small-scale local events or activities targeted at community organisations and schools

Tier 2 Grants from $1,001 to $5000 for local community events targeted at larger community organisations

Tier 3 Grants from $5,001 to $10,000 for large scale community events run by local councils in partnership with organisations and groups.

For more information or to submit an application, go towww.nswseniorsfestival.com.au. Grant applications close 5pm, Friday September 8.

WHITE SPOT – LET’S KEEP IT OUT OF NSW

A reminder to communities in Barwon to remain vigilant and follow expert advice in order to keep NSW free from White Spot. Regional communities in south-east Queensland were hit hard by White Spot last year and the whole community plays an important role in protecting our NSW prawn industry. White Spot is highly contagious for crustaceans, primarily prawns but it can also affect crabs, lobsters, marine worms and freshwater crayfish – it does not affect people and NSW seafood remains safe to eat. So far there has been no evidence of White Spot in NSW and we are doing everything we can to keep it that way, but we need the community’s help.

It’s crucial that people fishing, crabbing or trapping yabbies in any of our waterways, do not use prawns intended for human consumption as bait, as this could spread White Spot to NSW. As part of the new NSW Biosecurity Act all members of the community have a general biosecurity duty to consider how actions could have a negative impact on another person, business, animal or the environment.